NordicBaltic Regional Office for Environment, Science, Technology

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Nordic/Baltic Regional Officefor Environment,
Science, Technology Health

• Regional Environmental Office (REO)
• U.S. Embassy Copenhagen
• Denmark

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Nordic/Baltic Regional Officefor Environment,
Science, Technology Health

• Internationalt samarbejde omkring miljøforhold og
  undervisning
• REO - Copenhagen
• Silke Alsen

Odense Katedralskolen September 26, 2005
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The REO

• Established in 1998
• Funded by U.S. Department of State
• Environment, Science, Technology, and Health
  (ESTH) Issues
• Staff 1 diplomat 1 program assistant
• One of 12 regional ESTH Hubs worldwide

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REO Region

• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Iceland
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Norway
• Poland
• NW Russia
• Sweden
• Northern Germany

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Why the REO?

• Issues are transboundary, global
• Coordinate U.S. ESTH activity regionally
• Build U.S. ESTH capacity in region
• Report back on ESTH from the region

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The Enhanced Partnership Initiative for Northern
Europe (ePINE)

• 2003 initiative to replace Northern Europe
  Initiative (NEI)
• Continue to build on success with Baltic States
• Extend Baltic States model of cooperation to
  neighboring countries (Ukraine, Belarus)
• Parallels EUs Northern Dimension

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ePINE Pillars

• Cooperative Security defense cooperation,
  counter-terrorism, trafficking in persons, etc.
• Vibrant Economies business, trade, investment
  promotion
• Healthy Societies environment, good
  governance, transparency, social inclusion

REO involvement
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REO Regional Role

• Information resource for regional U.S. missions
  (web site, newsletter, research)
• Help identify regional issues where U.S. might
  play facilitating role
• Provide (limited) funding for programs
• Facilitate communication with USG agencies
• Assist in implementing programs and organizing
  meetings and conferences
• Provide U.S. experts/expertise (speaker programs)

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REO Issue Areas

• Environment
• Invasive Species
• Climate change
• Biodiversity
• Sustainable development
• Pollutants
• Energy
• Alternative energy
• Energy efficiency

• Science Technology
• Bilateral ST agreements
• Science cooperation
• Science fellowships
• Health
• HIV/AIDS
• Tuberculosis
• Avian Flue
• Telemedicine

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REO Funding Sources

• Operating budget from Dept. of State
• Grants from Bureau of Oceans, Environment
  Science (US Dept. of State)
• US Public Affairs Sections and programs

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Earlier REO Activities

• Expand Long Term Ecological Research Network
  (LTER)
• Fund The Access Initiative (TAI) in Baltics
  Poland
• Strengthen U.S. Science Technology ties with
  Baltic Sea States, e.g. Denmark continuing
• Scientist exchanges / Organize speaker tours
• Strengthen GLOBE program continuing

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Current REO Activities

• Bring speakers (e.g. Integrated Coastal Zone
  management - ICZM)
• Assist Nordic/Baltic Network on Invasive Species
  (NOBANIS)
• Support regional efforts on oil spill and
  maritime safety
• Outreach to Greenland
• Promote GLOBE program / GLOBE Europe

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Greenland Agreement Cooperation

• August 2004 Signature USA, GL, DK
• Embassy-wide effort Econ/Pol, Tourism,
  Environment, Science, Education
• REO Support Greenlandic environm. cooperation
• Assist on integrating Greenland in the GLOBE
  community now and in the future !
• FWS/NPS met with Greenlandic environmental
  authorities on Arctic Nature Park Management
• GL Environmental officer on study tour through US
• Telemedicine speakers and seminars, ....

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REO GLOBE / GLOBE Europe

• Focus Nordic / Baltic Region
• Speak up for GLOBE on its specific regional needs
• Agreement US Denmark.. and Greenlandic
  position?
• Involvement of Russian communities (Estonia)
• Intermediary - when needed (Latvia)
• German ASA program Baltic States third world
  students exchange (www.asa-programm.de)
• Recent fund for GLOBE Europe
• Support networking, contacts

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GLOBE in the Baltic Sea Region

• Estonia (46 schools)
• GLOBE Games, attract new GLOBE schools, GLOBE
  Sciece Days, GLOBE Alumnis, Russian Communities
• Latvia (12)
• GLOBE learning expedition, small scale activities
  work more effectively, attracting new schools
• Lithuania (20)
• Train-the-Trainer Workshop, attracting new
  schools, scientists integration, GLOBE summer
  camp
• Germany (250)
• Change of HQ to Kiel, Teachers Trainings, annual
  meetings, GIS, ..
• Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland

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Objectives Denmark / Greenland

• Keyword Internationalization of Danish education
• Update Greenland status in current agreement
• Cooperation with local scientists (e.g. GIS
  efforts, International Polar Year - Arctic)
• Support schools exchange with GLOBE in the whole
  region
• Connection European Environmental Agency

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Har I nu spørgsmål til mig?
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REO Contact Information

• Lori Peterson Dando, Counselor
• Silke Alsen, Program Assistant
• Nanna Nyholm, Program Assistant (1.1.06)
• U.S. Embassy Copenhagen
• Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 24
• DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
• Telephone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• reo_at_usembassy.dk